Hirata Rui Wanted to Hit Someone

The afternoon classes soon ended under extremely lax supervision.

Like most high schools in Sakurajima, Koudo Ikusei High School let out at half past three.

Students could either join a club they were interested in or go straight home.

It had only just started.

No one had joined a club yet.

There was still over an hour before the school's Club Fair.

Taking advantage of the free time after school, Horikita Suzune went up to the podium after the teacher left the classroom.

"Everyone, I'd like you to listen for a moment."

"Is something up, Horikita? Karuizawa and the others and I were just about to go out. Why not bring it up another time?"

Unexpectedly, the first to refuse was D Class's Little Angel, Kushida Kikyo!

"Exactly. Kushida's had a really hard day, so we were planning to throw her a party to cheer her up. Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow."

Yamauchi Haruki immediately chimed in. After speaking, he joined the Foolish Trio's Sudo and Kanji Ike in packing up, showing no intention of listening to Horikita.

After all, the aloof Horikita was nowhere near as appealing as sweet, gentle Kushida.

It's great having such idiot simps around to help me!

Kushida Kikyo inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, too.

The rumors that had spread during the day had left her on edge. She'd gone back to her dorm at lunchtime to vent, and only barely managed to maintain her gentle demeanor afterward.

In Kushida's judgment,

the only person who could know about her past was Horikita Suzune, who had gone to the same middle school.

In other words,

Horikita Suzune had to be the one spreading the rumors!

Was that damn Horikita planning to expose her past here?

Kushida desperately didn't want anyone finding out about it.

She'd rather secretly get Horikita expelled, but since Horikita was being so obnoxious,

there was no choice but to face her head-on!

Fortunately,

it was still early in the school year, and Horikita had no influence yet.

Meanwhile, thanks to her exceptional looks and gentle nature, Kushida had already attracted several boys. Yamauchi Haruki was one of them.

The other was Tenyo Yuyuki, who had earned her trust at a crucial moment.

And besides,

though he wasn't as popular as Hirata, Yuyuki had some influence among the girls, too.

She was definitely the one with the advantage!

With that in mind,

Kushida Kikyo cast Yuyuki an expectant look. A glimmer of tears shone in her eyes, and a faint blush crossed her pretty face.

Her adorable appearance made it easy to feel fond of her and want to protect her.

"Heh."

Yuyuki was amused inwardly and couldn't help admiring Kushida's acting.

But the two were talking at cross purposes.

He had a pretty good idea what Horikita wanted to say.

After all, so far,

everything that had happened was still within his grasp.

But

he couldn't let Kushida grow to resent him, or all the arrangements he'd made would go to waste.

"Suzune, is what you want to say important?"

Yuyuki stood and looked at Horikita. "If it isn't, why don't I pass it along to Kushida afterward?"

Hearing Yuyuki, Horikita glanced casually at Kushida and replied coolly, "If you fools want to leave, do as you please. But what I have to say is fairly important, so I'd suggest you stay."

"Tch."

At Horikita's icy tone, Sudo abruptly stood up and slammed his right hand on the desk.

"Horikita, right? You've been standing there talking to yourself this whole time. You're just a woman, so what's with the attitude?"

"'Just a woman'? That's a pretty arrogant thing to say."

Horikita shot back at once, her voice cold and sharp. "I said that anyone who doesn't want to stay can leave. Can't you understand something that simple?"

"What the hell is with your attitude? You looking down on me? Come on, then!"

"Hey... hey, calm down, Sudo. We're popular guys, so we should be the bigger men. Don't stoop to her level!"

Sudo looked ready to throw a punch, but Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki from the Foolish Trio quickly held him back.

Horikita's attitude was too cold and came off as arrogant, but Sudo's remark had also instantly angered the girls in class.

After all,

his disparaging remark about women had been a broad swipe at them, even if he hadn't meant it that way.

As a result,

Yamauchi Haruki, an uninvolved bystander who'd tried to break up the fight, was also blacklisted by the girls. His remark had been just as inappropriate.

Seeing the state of the class, Hirata stepped forward with a bright smile.

"There's still over an hour before the Club Fair, so why don't we hear what Horikita has to say? We're all classmates, after all, and we'll have plenty more to discuss in the future."

After a brief pause, Hirata turned to Kushida and suggested, "I'm planning to join the Football Club, and most students who want to join a club may not be free until after five. That way, more people could come to Kushida's gathering."

At the end, Hirata looked at Kushida and asked in a half-joking tone, "Kushida, could you give us a chance?"

Faced with Hirata,

Kushida had nothing to object to.

Besides,

once she realized Horikita wasn't trying to expose her past, Kushida temporarily gave up on going after her.

She smiled warmly and nodded. "Of course. But it'd be best if we could be quick. It's still the start of the school year, and the other classes might be having gatherings, too. If we wait too long, there might not be any seats left."

Worried about what Horikita might do next, Kushida had planted an excuse to leave early in advance.

Hirata nodded in relief, then turned back to Horikita and suggested, "Horikita, could you keep it as brief as possible? If it's too much to explain now, you can tell me privately sometime, and I'll pass it on to everyone."

"Of course. I don't want to waste too much time on people who have no value."

Horikita nodded calmly. She truly meant it.

However,

Horikita's personality was really off-putting at the moment. Sudo abruptly hurled the stationery on his desk at her and shouted,

"You bastard! You really are looking down on me! Take back what you just said!"

"That's surprising. It seems you do have some self-awareness."

Horikita nimbly sidestepped the flying stationery and stared back at Sudo without fear.

The other students quickly backed away, but none dared leave. Walking out without permission could easily make them seem like they didn't care about the class.

Even the brave lone wolf didn't dare go against the class's momentum now.

And no one stepped in to calm the two down. Sudo had lost everyone's goodwill with his earlier remark, but Horikita was just as unpleasant.

They could only stay neutral.

D Class was on the verge of falling apart!